Loves Redemption

sandwich.
They ate in companionable silence before Mark continued. “My problem is with her
work. She has this incredible commitment to Imani House, and I think she has a hard time separating herself from it. She’s already warned me her priorities are always going to be there first.”
“Well if the relationship deepens, I’m sure things will shift. But this is all new, right? I mean it’s not like you’re in love or anything, you know?”
Mark was taking a long swallow of his drink when Jordan spoke, and being unprepared,
the question made him choke on his drink.
Jordan jumped up and thumped him hard on the back. “Damn man--are you okay?” he
asked after Mark regained his composure.
“I’m fine, thanks,” he choked out. He could feel the heat spread throughout his face as
realization dawned. He couldn’t believe it. It was too soon. There was no way he could be falling in love with her this soon.
The waiter returned to ask if they needed anything and Mark asked for the bill.
Not realizing the cause of his partner’s near choking accident, Jordan continued. “Yeah,
like I was saying, give it some time. This is new to the both of you and time will tell.”
“Yeah, you’re right. We’d better head back.” Leaving money on the table for the bill and
a healthy tip, they left the café.
As Mark drove home later that evening, he remembered the interview Alicia Somers had
conducted with Maya. He drove faster so he could catch a glimpse of her on the late news, as he thought back over his conversation with Jordan.
* * * *
Imani House was quiet when Maya finished her duties at the end of the day. Time was
approaching when her practicum students would finish their semester. Although some had
agreed to stay on for the summer to earn an additional graduate credit, most would not be
returning until fall.
Summer was the House’s downtime. She was able to have less staff than at any other
time because people were at their most content during late spring and summer, and her residents were no different. She needed fewer counselors because she held less counseling sessions.
Maya stretched her achy back and began to straighten her desk, placing important
documents she was working on in her bag as she prepared to leave for the day. Turning off the light, she left her office and said goodnight to the night security officer as well as to Jorge and the few residents watching television in the dayroom.
As she drove home, Maya popped in a CD, eased back into her seat and listened to the
smooth vocals of Etta James coming from the speakers. Music always helped her relax on the
drive home; time seemed to go by, if not faster, at least pleasantly. As she maneuvered through the near empty streets heading toward the interstate and home, she thought back on the current events in her life.
She hadn’t had time to start her investigation for information today. Now as she was
driving home she had time to think about what her first plan of action would be to gain the information she needed. Whenever she needed information she would put the word out in the
community and it didn’t take long before either one of her staff members or one of the residents would come through with what she needed.
Although this time there was a difference. This was more personal.
Maya could see the lights were on in Dalia’s section of the mansion as she drove into her
driveway. Finals were approaching and although her friend was a part-time student, she took her studies seriously.
Using the automatic garage door opener, she drove inside the garage’s brightly lit
interior. Turning off the ignition, she grabbed her bag and jumped off the raised platform of the jeep, landing sneaker-clad feet on the garage floor. Humming the tune she’d been listening to under her breath, Maya walked to the door, which led into her private entrance.
After she’d entered the house, she automatically turned on the light and didn’t look up.
Instead, she leafed through the mail on the side table. Because of thi, she accidentally bumped into a large vase filled with a beautiful arrangement of fragrant yellow roses.

CHAPTER 12
Maya’s mouth formed a perfect O as she placed the unread and forgotten mail down to
admire the beautiful floral display on the small table. A note sat beside the vase written in Dalia’s hasty script. “These came for you this evening. I didn’t want them to stay outside so I brought them in for you. From your detective, Sesute? Enjoy!!”
She smiled and took a deep breath before she began to hunt around for an accompanying
note. Finding it tucked into the middle, she opened the small envelope and read the contents.
“I saw you on the news. You were wonderful. I’ll bet that Alicia Somers will think again
before she opens that big trap of hers and tries to make anyone else look foolish!!” The note wasn’t signed, but she couldn’t think of anyone who’d send her flowers, except for Mark.
Although the wording seemed a bit odd, she smiled, as she once again took one of the delicate stems between her fingers and inhaled its lovely fragrance.
She had forgotten all about the interview and wondered if she could catch it on a later
broadcast. As she glanced around the room, she noticed the red light blinking on her antiquated answering machine. The machine was old, but it served its purpose, and she had a hard time
wasting money. She took off her Nikes and padded on stocking feet to hit the play button to listen.
“Hi Maya, it’s Mark. I’m at home catching up on paperwork, but I wanted to call to see
how your day went. It’s after ten, and after I catch the evening news, I’m turning in. I don’t want to call you at Imani House, because if you’re still there, I’m sure you’re busy and I already feel guilty enough